Pre-reading Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
講師がそれぞれの質問を読むので答えましょう。
- Have you eaten food from the ocean before?
- Have you seen a whale, seal, or penguin in real life or on TV?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
単語、意味、例文を読みます。講師に続いて音読しましょう。
- suspension /suh-SPEN-shuhn/
[noun] – the act of stopping something for a period of time
The match faced suspension because of the heavy rain. - agreement /uh-GREE-muhnt/
[noun] – a formal decision or arrangement reached by two or more groups or countries
Nations failed to reach an agreement on fishing quotas. - suitable /SOO-tuh-buhl/
[adjective] – acceptable or appropriate according to certain conditions, standards, or evidence
This area is suitable for building houses because the land is flat. - opposition /op-uh-ZISH-uhn/
[noun] – strong disagreement with a plan or policy
The proposal met strong opposition from local residents. - barrier /BAR-ee-er/
[noun] – a protection or safeguard that helps prevent harm
Mangroves act as a barrier against flooding by reducing wave damage.
Article Reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
記事を音読しましょう。講師はあなたの発音とイントネーションを確認します。
Krill fishing in Antarctica reached a record in the 2024–2025 season, with more than 518,000 tons caught by July. This amount was already 84 percent of the 620,000-ton limit set by global rules. The heavy catch may cause an early suspension if the maximum is reached. Krill, a small crustacean, is important as food for whales, seals, and penguins in the Southern Ocean. Studies also showed that krill help remove about 20 million tons of carbon from the air every year, equal to five million cars. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) manages the fishing, but talks in 2024 failed to reach an official agreement on quotas and protected areas.
The large catch brought both gains and challenges. Industry groups said the harvest is still suitable, based on studies of krill numbers. On the other hand, environmental groups expressed strong opposition, saying heavy fishing in small zones may trap whales in nets. Experts explained that krill act as a natural barrier against climate change, so their survival is very important. Without stronger conservation, krill may face a fast decline, harming the balance of the ocean system. The future of Antarctic resources depends on cooperation among countries.
The large catch brought both gains and challenges. Industry groups said the harvest is still suitable, based on studies of krill numbers. On the other hand, environmental groups expressed strong opposition, saying heavy fishing in small zones may trap whales in nets. Experts explained that krill act as a natural barrier against climate change, so their survival is very important. Without stronger conservation, krill may face a fast decline, harming the balance of the ocean system. The future of Antarctic resources depends on cooperation among countries.
True or False:
Read the sentences and identify if they are true or false based on the article.
文章を読んで、記事に基づいて正誤を答えましょう。
- More than 518,000 tons of krill were caught by July 2025.
- The catch already exceeded the 620,000-ton fishing limit.
- Krill are a main food source for whales, seals, and penguins.
- Studies showed krill increase the amount of carbon in the air.
- An official agreement on fishing quotas was reached in 2024.
Fill in the Blanks:
Choose the correct word from the table, then fill in the blanks.
適切な言葉を選んで空欄を埋めましょう。
| suspension | agreement | suitable | opposition | barrier |
- Trees can serve as a ______ against strong winds during storms.
- ______ of bus service caused problems for many passengers.
- The countries signed an ______ to protect the river.
- The field is ______ for planting crops, according to recent research.
- His ______ stopped the plan from moving forward.